Avsnitt

  • If you’ve listened to our episode on Dating Danes and have been really applying yourself, you might be starting to think about Danish weddings


    Both Sam and Josefine have (separately!) had Danish weddings that are a little bit different to how other countries do it. But what are some of the things to expect when going to a Danish wedding?

    In this bonus episode of What the Denmark we’re speaking to social historian Caroline Nyvang and Anna Askov, editor of Gift ved fþrste blik or “Married at First Sight” about Danish wedding traditions.

    Some of things this episode covers:

    Danish marriage traditions from the 1800s-1900sWhy do people get married - or not - in Denmark today?How ‘Married at First Sight’ has become such a popular Danish exportWhat does a traditional wedding day look like in Denmark? And where did these traditions come from?How easy is it to get married in Denmark? - Ærþ “Europe’s Las Vegas”Why are Danish divorce rates so high?

    If you have any thoughts on this episode please do comment on our Instagram - we’d love to hear what you think!

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    This episode is sponsored by the Talent to a Green Denmark project who administers the A State of Denmark brand.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

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    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram

  • In this last episode of the current season we give you everything you need to know ahead of coming to Denmark for the first time.

    Sam and Josefine are joined in the studio with two excellent guests sharing their insights and tips on how to orient your first days and weeks in the land of Denmark..!

    Kay Xander Mellish the author of the new book "How to Work in Denmark: Tips for finding a job, succeeding at work, and understanding your Danish boss". She is the voice behind the long-running "How to Live in Denmark" podcast and blog.

    Joseph Yamoah is a project consultant at Maersk (a Danish multinational) and moved to Denmark full-time from Ghana after studying at the University of Copenhagen.

    The four discuss all sorts of interesting things to help you on the practical elements of being in Denmark: navigate from the airport, avoid getting run over by a bike and even building friendships with local Danes.

    In the episode we discussed various apps/ services that are useful to know about

    Elderlearn (learn Danish speaking to elderly Danish people)Tivoli (amusement park in the centre of Copenhagen)DOT app (public transport tickets)DSB app (for train times/ tickets)Citymapper (for real-time travel info) Donkey Republic and Lime (for bike rentals)

    We also featured a question from Derek who runs the Robe Trotting Youtube channel (all about things that are confusing about Denmark) and spoke about Joseph’s Copenhagen University article: https://studies.ku.dk/masters/global-development/interviews/joseph-yamoah/

    If you enjoyed this episode/ season, please do consider giving us a rating/ review on your podcast app, it really helps in having new people discover the show + you can let us know if there are any topics you’d like us to do in the future!

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    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

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    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram

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  • For a culture that is normally so practical and matter-of-fact (see Separate Duvets), Danes seem to find it surprisingly difficult to talk about relationships.

    Compared with other cultures, it’s rare in Denmark to ask someone out on a date in person (unless drunk) and there’s often missing vocabulary around defining what relationships are (there’s no direct translation for “dating”).

    All this means that non-Danes (and to some extent, Danes) can really struggle with navigating the world of relationships in Denmark.

    In this episode we seek to explore why, and offer advice on what to do!

    Sam and Josefine are joined in the studio by Line Kirsten Nikolajsen, a radio presenter at DR (the Danish national broadcaster) who used to present Giftekniv, a show all about helping young people in the world of dating.

    In the episode we cover:

    Advice on how to approach a Danish person you think looks hotHow to do a first date in DenmarkA warning on saying “I love you” to a DaneDifferences between heterosexual and homosexual relationshipsThe gender (in)equality in Danish relationshipsDanes (perhaps) being more comfortable dating friends than strangersExperiences dating in Denmark vs abroad

    And several times investigating the sense that Danes (as a general rule) struggle to talk about romantic feelings, and how that is reflected in the Danish language.

    We had some additional help on this episode from student journalist Frida RottlÀnder who joined us in the studio, and Sue-Angel Nyleti who conducted additional research.

    A few things that we spoke about include

    Dating advice from Maroua SajebDating Without Borders video “What not to do on a date in Denmark”

    If you have any thoughts on this episode please do comment on our Instagram - we’d love to hear what you think!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

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    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram

  • In the 1970s, Denmark was like most other Western countries when it came to generating energy: the majority came from high-polluting, non-renewable resources.

    When oil crises hit after OPEC switched off oil supply, Denmark, and indeed much of the world, was hit with huge economic and social pain.

    Once the flow oil came back, many countries began to return to their economies running on fossil fuels and, to some extent, it was business as usual.

    But not in Denmark


    In this episode, we take a look at Denmark’s “Green Transition” - how (and why) the country took the hard path towards creating a low-carbon, resource-efficient society.

    Sam speaks with Finn Mortensen the Executive Director of State of Green, a Danish public-private partnership that exists to support and explain Denmark’s transition “from black to green”.

    The two talk about:

    Why Denmark (unlike other countries) acted on transitioning away from “black” energy in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisisHow Denmark’s public and private sectors collaborated to ensure a just transition in former oil citiesThe Danish psyche of resource preservation demonstrated by toddlers turning off the tapsAn alternative history of Denmark discovering the oil deposits of NorwayThe mistakes Denmark made, and what they have learned from them

    If you’re looking at the current energy crisis and seeking inspiration for how countries can move from being reliant on fossil fuels (controlled by unpredictable governments) then give this episode a listen!

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    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

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    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • It seems that one of the defining characteristics of being Danish is to feel you are a member of a small nation.

    During the Viking and Middle Age periods, Denmark was a relative superpower, with territory spanning modern day Norway, south Sweden and northern Germany.

    A series of failed military campaigns during the 1800s however meant that much of this land was lost, and my the 1860s, only a fraction was left.

    Faced with a crisis, the remaining Danish population had to define what it now meant to be Danish.

    They could no longer rely on the narrative that Danes were great warriors (after such humiliating losses on the battlefield) and so instead had to define what it meant to be Danish.

    The result? A constitution and general psyche premised on tolerance, equality and co-operation.

    To explore this story, and what this means for modern day Denmark, we speak with critical historian Asser Amdisen (who was behind this viral video of explaining the whole of Danish History in (almost) 1 minute).

    He also brings in a critical view of Danish society today: saying how Danes think they are better than the stories they tell themselves.

    Sam and Josefine discuss these points, and also bring in anecdotes of their own, such as the story of the Danish Protest Pig (pictured) that acted as a symbol of Danish resistance for the population when living under Prussian rule.

    If you're interested in learning about Denmark's past, and how this influences the present day, then we hope this episode helps!

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    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • In the 1950s, a Danish woman, Ella Flatau, began taking her kids on walks in the forest to teach them about the world.

    Soon, other parents asked if their kids could join, and before long, they formalised the arrangement, creating the first "forest kindergarten" in the country, and possibly the world.

    Fast forward to today, and most of us have a sense that it's good for young children (and ourselves!) to spend time in nature, but that it can be hard to do.

    In Denmark, and increasingly around the world, there is a growing interest in the physical and mental benefits of children being in nature - whether that be learning to balance by climbing trees, or experiencing the mental calmness of wide, open, green spaces.

    In this episode Sam goes to visit Rikke Rosengren, the founder of the Bonsai Institute skovbĂžrnehave (forest kindergarden).

    Rikke is the author of the book Child of Nature and trains teachers around the world how to incorporate more nature into their learning institutions.

    Rikke shows Sam around the school and answers his (long list of) questions. As a new parent himself, understanding how they work is no longer an abstract concept, but something he is considering for his own daughter


    We also get a UK perspective, speaking with Tim Evans, who’s been a forest school leader at Alton Park primary school, about how even small amounts of nature based learning can do wonders for children and adults.

    If you've ever wondered about the practicalities of letting children roam free in nature (with adult supervision), or need a little nudge towards spending more time in green spaces, then this is for you!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

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    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • In this episode Sam is speaking to Anne Jamison and John Bennett, a couple from the USA who moved to Denmark from Dubai last year.

    Anne and John share their thoughts on:

    Work/life balance in Denmark and how this differs from US cultureDenmark being a “low anxiety” place to workThe tribulations in getting things delivered to Denmark over the summer

    And many more fun, interesting things that come from moving to a new country.

    If you're interested to be featured on What The Denmark then be in touch via here: https://whatthedenmark.com/contact

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • Around the world house prices are rising far higher than incomes meaning "ordinary people" are unable to afford to own a place to live.

    In Denmark, andelsboliger ("co-operative housing") offers a solution.

    With roots in the 1800s, it is an approach whereby people come together to collectively own a common asset (in this case a property, such as an apartment block) and then collectively reap the benefits.

    In the episode, Sam and Josefine speak with Stefanie HĂžy Brink, curator and ethnographer at Copenhagen City Museum and Mikkel HĂžegh, housing economist at the danish bank, Jyske Bank.

    The four discuss:

    The historical precedent of the cooperative movement, and how it was applied to housingHow cooperative housing offers the ability to share resources with neighboursThe technicalities of how the system works, and why prices can remain low

    And ultimately how sustainable the system is, with its tension between self-interest for the owners of andelsboliger and the desire to maintain a system that is fair for future generations.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • We're back with Season 3!

    In this episode we tackle Janteloven or "The Law of Jante".

    In 1933, a Danish-Norwegian author called Axel Sandemose wrote a book describing a fictional town in rural Denmark.

    The people of the town were very set in their ways, and didn't like it when individuals tried to break from the norms, or think that they were in any way special.

    This fictional (satirical) piece of work has come to define how many in Scandinavia see their lives today: people are sceptical of individual success, and prefer to "be average" rather than aspire to stand out from the crowd.

    Of course, it's not that simple, but knowing about this undercurrent of conformity can help explain why people in Denmark are seemingly content (or frustrated by!) following the crowd.

    We are joined by writer Michael Booth (author of The Almost Nearly Perfect People) and also speak with SĂžren Ledet, co-founder of Geranium, a Danish restaurant that has been voted as the best restaurant in the world.

    Michael shares his experiences of getting to grips with Janteloven and even learning to love it (on occasion). In the episode we reference this article he wrote for The Guardian that caused a bit of a storm.

    SĂžren discusses how breaking free from Janteloven has allowed Geranium to achieve the next level of culinary greatness, but still without fully discarding the central law of Jante - "You are not better than anyone else".

    There's much that's discussed on the pros and cons of social conformity, as well as many anecdotes from life in Denmark.

    We hope you enjoy!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This episode is sponsored by Talent to Denmark's "State of Denmark" campaign.

    Denmark is actively looking to attract international talent to move to the country. If you're interested to learn more about jobs in (one of) the happiest countries in the world, head to www.state-of-denmark.com/wtd

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    You can also learn more about What The Denmark on our website, Facebook and Instagram @whatthedenmark

  • Hello!

    Hope you've had a lovely summer.

    The What The Denmark team have been busy getting ready for a new season of the podcast... and we'd love your input for a couple of episodes!

    Dating Danes

    One episode has the working title How to date a Dane.

    Have you had experience dating Danish people? Is it different to dating people from different countries? Any funny/ amusing anecdotes?

    (Sam will be sharing some from when he was dating his Danish wife...)

    Newcomers Survival Guide

    The other episode is about helpful advice to help people navigate their first days/ weeks in Denmark.

    Have you had any "aha moments" whilst being in Denmark? Or things you wish you knew earlier? Maybe there are things you always end up telling friends/ family who visit that they need to remember to do?

    If so, we'd love to hear what they are and then talk about them (with you?) on the show!

    Please fill out the form on the WTD contact page: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/contact

    The plan is to be recording episodes in the next couple of months and so the sooner the better 🙂

    We look forward to sharing a new set of episodes with you soon! In the meantime you can follow us on Instagram at @whatthedenmark

  • When temperatures drop, the last thing on most people's minds is to go outside, strip off and take a plunge into near freezing water.

    That is, however, what a large percentage of the Danish population do each winter.

    Why on earth would someone choose to do this?

    Well, it turns out that the benefits to doing so are pretty convincing, and not just for the physical aspects of helping you burn more calories.

    Sam and Josefine are joined this week in the studio by journalist Saskia Weneit.

    Saskia spoke to many experts and enthusiasts in researching this topic, including:

    JĂžrgen Hedevang: Chairman of the Danish Winter Bathing AssociationMette Thomsen: Danish ice-swimming championHelle Gollers: a winter bathing "addict"

    During the episode we cover all sorts of interesting aspects of winter bathing:

    What it actually isThe physical health benefits of winter bathingThe mental health benefits of winter bathingThe history of winter bathing in DenmarkHow it has entered local politicsHow you can get startedHow to winter bathe safely

    as well as Sam and Saskia's experiences winter bathing as they try (unsuccessfully) to convince Josefine to try it out...

    Thanks to ECO Hotels for hosting us at Guldsmeden Hotel in Copenhagen.

    Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

    Note that this is the last episode of Season Two of What The Denmark - we hope you've enjoyed it!

    If you've enjoyed the show, please do leave a rating/ review - it's a great way to support what we are doing, especially as we speak to potential sponsors for the show.

    We hope to have more episodes for you soon!

  • In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, citizens' trust in their governments has declined all across Europe, and around the world.

    Denmark, however, stands out as a country where trust levels have increased.

    But why?

    This is the topic of this week's episode + an exploration into the country's remarkable high levels of trust between people.

    We discuss:

    The game theory of strangers trusting other peopleThe historical roots of Denmark's strong independent institutionsWhat "default trust" feels like to outsidersHow other countries can encourage trust amongst citizensThe upsides of trust: efficiency, oxytocinThe downsides of trust:; how to combat it

    and more broadly an exploration of "the trust dividend" that is felt from a society where the default setting is to trust one another.

    In this episode we spoke with three excellent guests

    Peter MĂŒhlmann, CEO of TrustpilotGert Tinggaard Svendsen, Professor of Political Science at Aarhus UniversityKathy Borys Siddiqui, a Polish/ American expat in Denmark for the past 13 years and founder of Active Action

    Note that the image is of a roadside stand on the Danish island of Bornholm where members of the public are trusted to pay for the items available. (Sam took the pic whilst on holiday there last year)

    Thanks to ECO Hotels for hosting us at Guldsmeden Hotel in Copenhagen.

    Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • Danish food culture has an outsized impact on the world stage.

    For a country with less than 0.1% of the world's population, Denmark boasts the two best restaurants in the world and has a culinary movement that is the envy of chefs and kitchens around the world.

    But it wasn't always that way...

    In fact, there was a very distinct turning point when Danish (and more broadly Nordic) food became "New".

    In 2004 a group of restauranteurs and food experts gathered in Copenhagen to write an outline of how they were going to revolutionise the region's food industry, much in the way the film and TV industry had done.

    The result was The Manifesto for the New Nordic Kitchen.

    Two of the chefs present were René Redzepi (Head Chef of Noma, now the #1 restaurant in the world) and Claus Meyer (food entrepreneur).

    In this episode Sam speaks with Jonas Astrup, head of product innovation at Meyers Madhus ("Meyers Food House" - the company Claus founded) to encourage more people to get interested in cooking and food.

    Sam and Jonas talk about:

    The history of the New Nordic Cuisine movementWhat "old" Danish food practices valuedWhat it looks like in practiceHow the founding principles are becoming increasingly relevant to the sustainability agendaHow anyone can useJonas' inspiration for working in foodChallenges to overcome in tackling e.g. food waste

    and how methods such as fermentation are becoming increasingly more popular as a way to create the umami flavour from plants.

    You can learn more about Jonas and Meyers Madhus at: https://meyers.dk/

    Thanks to Hotel Mayfair in Central Copenhagen for hosting us for the recording. You can get 25% off your stay by using the code WTD at checkout

    Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • Guki is originally from Georgia (the country, not the US state), and moved to Denmark for studies after growing up fascinated by Scandinavia.

    This is a different type of episode to our usual ones, where we speak with people are learning about Danish culture after moving to Denmark.

    These interviews, we feel, are a great way to learn practical advice from others adapting to Denmark, but also to get fresh perspectives on things that seem peculiar to outsiders.

    Guki and Sam talk about a variety of different topics, including:

    Guki's experience growing up during conflicts in GeorgiaSimilarities between Georgia and Denmark (rice pudding)Differences (approach to drinking; people volunteering in Denmark; how Danes queue)Advice for people new to Denmark

    as well as how Guki's parents are still worried about her cycling.

    Learn more at: https://www.whatthedenmark.com/

    Do you have some interesting advice to share?

    Be in touch via the contact form on the website + subscribe to the What The Denmark newsletter (via the website) where you'll receive details of how to be interviewed on the show.

    We'd also love to hear what you think of these types of episode. Should we do more? Let us know!

  • As winter approaches, you might spot an unusual sight on the streets of Denmark: fashionable people (mostly women) wearing an all-in-one ski suit worn predominantly by toddlers.

    These ski suits (or rather "flight suits") have become a fashion trend in Denmark in recent years, and they show no signs of stopping.

    Sam and Josefine discuss the past, present and future of this trend with lifestyle expert Julia Lahme, and what it says about Danish culture as a whole.

    We discuss:

    How flyverdragter are linked to the importance placed by Danes on fresh airThe history of flyverdragter - from shipyard apparel to fashion itemWhy it is deemed a human right (kind of) for small children to have flyverdragter in DenmarkFlyverdragter in other countries, and how it is a growing export marketGeneral fashion trends, especially as the Covid pandemic finishes

    Find out more from Julia via: https://julialahme.dk/

    Thanks to The Dalset for sharing flyverdragter we referenced in this episode, head to https://thedalset.com/ to see more of their flightsuits and how you can get one too.

    Thanks also to Eco Hotels for hosting us in their Guldsmeden Hotel in Islands Brygge, Copenhagen. Learn more: https://guldsmedenhotels.com/

    Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • Danish culture is premised on various values such as trust, equality and respect for privacy.

    Whilst this has many virtues, from an outsider perspective, this can also appear to play out in scenarios where Danes come across as... well, a bit rude.

    For example, it's not natural for Danish people to hold the door open for each other, or to offer help for someone struggling to take a baby stroller off a train.

    In this episode Sam and Josefine are joined by Danish anthropologist Dennis NĂžrmark.

    We talk about a whole range of scenarios in Danish culture that can seem perplexing to outsiders, but begin to make sense when viewed through the Danish prism (for example, buying your own birthday cake on your birthday?!)

    We discuss various other things such as:

    How whether cultures seem cold/ rude is linked to the sense of privacyHow Denmark (and Scandinavian countries) are in fact living a sort of extreme individualismWhy Danish people won't instinctively help people struggling in publicHow Danes view specific reciprocity vs generalised reciprocity in other culturesHow the trust in Denmark means there's not the need to "get to know" people you do business withHow the smiley face is the Danish word for pleaseGiving and receiving giftsThe fear (or not) of being laughed at

    You can learn more about Dennis' work at: https://dennisnormark.dk/

    Thanks to Hotel Mayfair in Central Copenhagen for hosting us for the recording. You can get 25% off your stay by using the code WTD at checkout

    Learn more about What The Denmark via: www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • David Heinemeier Hansson is a tech entrepreneur and internationally successful racing driver. Anyone who has worked in computer programming will likely have come across Ruby on Rails. Well, David invented it.

    David is the author of several business books with his American Basecamp business partner, Jason Fried including Rework, Remote and It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy at Work. He writes frequently about the importance of simplicity and work life balance in the working (and especially tech) world.

    In this conversation, Josefine and Sam speak with David about his experiences working/ living in the US and now back in Denmark (where he grew up).

    We cover:

    How Denmark is a country made for kids compared the USThe American "enthusiasm for newness"The Danish conservatism (both positives and negatives)The effects of the lack of societal hierarchy in DenmarkHow Basecamp's company philosophy is inherently shaped by David's Danish upbringingWhat Denmark can learn from the worldWhat the world can learn from Denmark

    Thank you to the wonderful Hotel d'Angleterre for hosting us for the recording. If you ever visit Copenhagen, try to go there.

    Learn more about What The Denmark via:

    www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • The initial stumbling block for a lot of non-Danes speaking Danish is being able to say things in a (somewhat) comprehensible manner, and understanding what others are saying back to you.

    Danes are notorious amongst their Scandinavian counterparts for mumbling, earning the not so flattering reputation of sounding like they speak with potatoes in their mouth...

    In this episode we understand why this is!

    We talk about what makes the Danish language special, including:

    Vowels, vowels, vowels: three extra letters (Ă„/ĂŠ/Ăž); a vowel-heavy language; intonation; assimilation (a.k.a. sounding like you have potatoes in your mouth)How Danish differs from Swedish and Norwegian: and perhaps reflects the countries' personalities?Danish is effectively two languages: the one you speak and the one you read/ writeViking roots: how the longstanding (written) history of Danish differs from, say, languages written down more recently (such as, say, Swahili)The Danish word committee: how new words enter the lexicon compared to, say, Norway ("is it majonĂŠse or mayonaise?")Danglish: the fun mix of Danish and English (it's hard to be a nissemand)Lene, Lena, Line, Lina: four distinct Danish names that are basically indistinguishable to non-Danes because of the additional vowel sounds that Danish possessesMonophthongs vs diphthongs: plus other linguistic differences between Danish and other languages

    as well as a discussion about the theory of language acquisition.

    We also spend a lot of time discussing practical tips for how to practice pronouncing Danish from three experience language teachers

    Signe Tofte Brantelid (Studieskolen)Naja Hou Alberdi (Copenhagen Language Center) andAnders Basby (UC Plus)

    The book that Josefine brings in is the Danish children's classic Halfdans ABC.

    A big thanks to our excellent researcher for this episode Eli TornĂže, and the rest of the What The Denmark team.

    Learn more about What The Denmark via:

    www.whatthedenmark.com and @whatthedenmark on Instagram

  • Sam, Josefine and Andreas (our "audio guy") have a conversation about the things we've learnt from the first season of What The Denmark.

    We cover:

    Feedback from listenersFavourite things we've learned from the episodes so farNew perspectives on the topics (e.g. does the Danish army have a "flat hierarchy"?)Behind the scenes and some of the statisticsNew episode ideas that will be coming up soon

    It's a fun, free ranging conversation that covers all sorts of interesting things from What The Denmark so far.

    We hope you enjoy!

    Season Two

    We'll begin work on future episodes of What The Denmark once we have secured sponsorship.

    If you know of any organisations interested in teaching the world about Danish culture, or helping attract/ retain international talent in Denmark then be in touch via [email protected]

    What to do while you wait?

    If you haven't already, do listen to the episodes that have been released so far to get an understanding of how Danish culture works, and tell friends who might be interested to hear.

    In preparation for Season Two you can also

    Subscribe to the show: this way you'll get notified in your podcast app when new episodes come outSign up to our newsletter: which is where we share additional insights and job opportunities

    Until then, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the show and been in touch!

    We really appreciate all the messages and ideas and hope to be back soon making more episodes.

    As always, you can read more about the show on https://www.whatthedenmark.com/

  • The sport of handball has a rich history in Denmark.

    The country invented the modern form of the game (so the story goes) and the men's team are the two-time reigning world champions.

    In this episode, Sam and Josefine speak with the head of the Danish Handball Federation, Morten Stig Christensen, about his view on the sport and what it means for the country.

    Through the discussions, a number of questions are answered, such as:

    The history of the sportWhich countries do and don't play (and why)What it takes to succeed in the sportHow it factored in Cold War propagandaHow to get involved in the sport

    and the big question for people living in Denmark: why is handball so popular in Jutland (rural Denmark).

    We provide answers to all these, as well as a discussion of how Danish foreninger (associations) represent a core component of Danish culture.

    Read more at: http://www.whatthedenmark.com/blog-post/handball